Five members of a local Boston labor union were indicted on federal extortion charges stemming from a run-in with crew members from Bravo's hit competition show "Top Chef," the Associated Press reported. Members of Teamsters Local 25 were accused of intimidating the crew, including show host Padma Lakshmi while they were filming in the city last year.
The Teamsters allegedly physically threatened and harassed "Top Chef" crew members after the reality show hired non-union drivers to work for the production company while filming in Boston, according to the indictment.
"Top Chef" was scheduled to film at the Omni Parker House and Menton in June 2014, but an anonymous tip from Boston City Hall alerted the businesses that Teamsters planned to picket the production company, causing the establishments to cancel the filming, according to Boston magazine. The crew then moved production to the Steel & Rye restaurant in nearby Milton, Mass.
Teamsters picketed outside of Steel & Rye, harassing and threatening the crew as they attempted to enter the building, and used intimidating tactics like chest-bumping staff as they tried to pass, The Boston Globe reported.
Show host Padma Lakshmi was also harassed and threatened when members yelled out, "We're gonna bash that pretty face in, you f--king whore!"
Three members of Teamsters pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to extort and attempted extortion charges and were released Wednesday on $50,000 unsecured bonds, according to the AP. The fourth was held until a Thursday detention hearing, and the fifth was released when prosecutors realized he was misidentified.
U.S. attorney Carmen Ortiz deplored the men's actions, saying that the five men involved used "old school thug tactics'' that reflected "poorly on our city.''